Change [Ricci Rivero, Completed]

Kabanata XXXVII [Bukangliwayway]

I woke up to the chattering of guys and whispering of girls na nagaabala nang magsigisingan. 3 oras na tulog is better than nothing, diba? Sumiksik ako sa sulok ng beds wherein tabi-tabi kaming lahat. Since mga wala naman nang malisya, halo na kaming lahat. Hindi ko na namalayan kung sinong katabi ko basta ang alam ko, nakataklob ako ng kumot at nagtago dito. Natakot ako na baka paggising ko, magkatabing Jean at Ricci ang masilayan ko.

Hindi magandang morning glory yon. Sala yon.

"Alex, you okay? You awake?" bulong sakin ng boses ng lalaki na hindi ko maidentify. Nakatago nga kasi ako sa ilalim ng kumot kaya di ko kita kung sino ang nanggigising. "Sino ka?" tanong ko dito. "Its Donny po. May hangover ka ba? Does your head ache?" tanong nito sakin. Hindi naman masakit ang ulo ko. "Nope. Wala nga akong maalala eh, what happened ba?" I know how I got here, inakay ako ni Elliana at ng girlfriend ni Kib paakyat pero kung anong mga nangyari prior that, wala akong maalala. Tinanggal ko yung taklob na kumot sa mukha ko at sinilip siya. Nasa right side ko siya while sa left ko was the wall already.

"Paktay tayo, Elliana. She doesn't remember anything." Donny bit hi lip and became skeptical. "Talaga ba, wala kang maalala?" pagtatanong nitong muli sa akin at mariin naman akong umiling. "Ikaw, may naaalala ka?" tanong nito sa kanan niya. Umangal ito at nagmurmur, signaling na wala rin daw.

"Ihhhh!" gigil ni Elliana and rolled her eyes. "Paano natin malalaman kung nagbalikan sila, eh hindi nga nila pareho natatandaan ang mga nangyari." singit ni Aljun na lumabas sa restroom habang nagbbrush ng teeth. Were we that drunk para umabot kami sa point na yon, na magbalikan kami? Jean was smiling at me and lumapit. She wanted to talk daw and niyaya ako sa balcony.

"What happened ba? Wala akong maalala." sabi ko sa kanya at tumingin sa malayo. Sumikat na pala ang araw. "You asked me last night if I love Ricci. My answer is no." she said and smiled at me. "Ricci is for Alex, I've always known that. I just grew close to him and same siya sakin. Clingy ako sa friends ko, I hope you understand, Alex." she explains and I'm puzzled sa mga nangyayari. "Shit, sorry I asked you that last night. Wala ako sa wisyo, wala nga akong maalala eh." I said sa kanya in the most apologetic way possible. I can see happiness in her eyes that I can't understand.

"Its okay. Now, atleast you know diba? Tuloy niyo na love story niyo, pati ako naiinip na eh." she chuckled and hugged me sideways. "You don't know how much he loves you even after he left. He didn't want to, but he had to." she says and pats my head. Jean has always been the bubbly, happy go lucky gal. Hindi siya nawawalan ng energy and takes thing lightly the right way, hindi yung nagiging insensitive na. Just the right type of mood a person would beautifully possess.

Walang love story na matutuloy, because there wasn't really one in the first place. We were just playing around to see who'd fall for the other, or if it was ever possible for me to fall inlove with anyone.

I guess my heart's just that difficult to please.

"Blast Justin Bieber sa speakers, Kuya!" sigaw ni Brent sa kuya ko na nagmamanage ng music sa baba. "Got it, Brent!" sigaw ni Kuya at nagplay ng music.

"Good morning, people! Bangon na! Breakfast!" sigaw ng girlfriend ni Kib at nagsimula nang magtayuan ang mga tao at nagbabaan na. I didn't see Ricci anywhere na kaagad after ko bumangon and almost half of everyone may be was downstairs na.

Bumaba na ako at naghanap ng seat near the shore to feel the breeze. Everyone was there narin while waiting for our breakfast na maluto. "Wala ka bang maalala talaga?" tanong ni Kib sakin na kumukusot ng mata. "Wala eh. Ano bang nangyari? Napahamak ba ako?" sabi ko sa kanya. Nagkamot ng ulo sina Kib habang si Ricci, tulala parin at mukhang bagong gising talaga. "Ikaw, wala ka ring naaalala?" tanong ni Kib and turned to Ricci. "Wala. Buhay pa naman kami, so wala namang nangyaring masama diba?" sambit niya at nakatulala parin. He looks so cuddly; ang gulo ng buhok niya mula sa pagkakatulog and his face, banat na banat pa like he just got up rekta talaga, medyo paga rin ang eyes niya. I smiled at the sight of him, "Gwapo ng lintris, gago ba 'to?" sabi ko sa sarili ko at binalik ang tingin sa malayo.

I layed my head down sa table and closed my eyes. I tried to remember even a single bit from last night pero wala talagang lumabas sa memorya ko. Feel ko lang na sobra ang pagod ko, sobra ang pugto ng mata ko

After about 10 minutes, may nagpatong ng sobrang aromatic na coffee sa tapat ko. Nagmulat at hindi ko na nakita kung sino, but everyone was smirking and smiling weirdly at me. Hinanap ko kung sino at nakita ko si Ricci na umiinom ng kape niya kasama si Brent na sinundan nito sa may break water at naguusap.

"Wala kang naaalala, Cci?" tanong ni Brent ulit kay Ricci. "Wala talaga eh. Wala naman akong ginawang kalokohan diba?" tanong nito at uminom ng kape. "Ikaw din ba, Alex? Wala ka din naaalala?" sigaw nito sakin. "Wala. Bakit, ano bang meron? Wala naman kaming ginawang katarantaduhan diba? Buhay pa naman ako ngayon kaya I assume, ganun nga?" sagot ko kay Brent at tumingin sa mga nakapaligid sakin. Hindi lumilingon si Ricci, umiinom lang siya ng kape niya.

Uminom rin ako nung kape na binigay sakin ni Ricci but before I do, I stopped as I remembered one of our inside jokes. "Walang gayuma 'to ah!?" sigaw ko sa kanya. Everyone giggled at kinilig. Mga lintik na 'to.

Hindi sumagot si Ricci at nakatitig lang sa malayo parin habang nakikipagusap kay Brent at kay Donny na lumapit narin sa kanya at nakipagkwentuhan. "Cci, walang gayuma ah!?" sigaw ko ulit. "Meron daw, konti lang. Mga isang baso!" sigaw ni Brent at kinurot naman ni Ricci ito.

(play audio!)
If I could just die in your arms
I wouldn't mind
'Cause every time you touch me
I just die in your arms
Oooh, it feels so right
So baby, baby, please don't stop, girl

Ricci raised his hand and wagged it, signalling na wala daw, pero nakaroon ng pinch as thick as a book. Nagkanchawan nanaman lahat at napainom nalang ako ng kape ko. I smirked right after as I recalled what he just did.

I rolled my eyes at them na sobrang saya at nagkakanchawan parin. My eyes, it landed kay Ricci na nakikipagkwentuhan kina Donny and Brent. Lumingon siya at tumingin, I tried to smile pero hindi nanaman niya nireciprocate ang gesture. Instead, tumingin lang siya sakin at tinaas ang cup of coffee na hawak niya, nakipagcheers as I raise my cup din to return the gesture.

After that, lumayo na ulit ang tingin niya at nakipagkwentuha na kina Brent. Out of nowhere, as my brother was playing Justin Bieber's songs, Die in Your Arms played and this specific part ang napatapat sa moment namin na 'to.

(play audio!)
Ooh, baby, I know loving you ain't easy
But sure is worth a try

I smirked as I try to take another look at Ricci then turned to the scenery in front of us. When I heard thos lyrics, I took another sip of my coffee, silently wishing this would have every last bit of the potion he made me take.

"How ironic is this moment? Naaalala naming lahat ang mga nangyari kagabi habang kayo, wala kayong idea?" sabi ni Elliana as she wonders and suddenly stops infront of me. "Alexandra, we love you, drunk or not too." she said and winked at me sabay inapiran naman nina Jollo at nina Kib na nakapalibot samin.

Narinig kong sinabi rin ni Brent at Donny yun kay Ricci na tuwang tuwa habang si Ricci, clueless at di alam kung paano magrereact. Uminom ulit to, thinking they meant what they just said. Di ko gets kung ano talaga ang nangyari, pero feel ko naman maganda diba? Kasi hindi naman sila matutuwa ng ganito kung nagbasag ulo kami ni Cci.

This moment just really sparks my curiosity— silang lahat, alam na alam nila ang mga nangyari samantalang kami, kami lang talagang dalawa ni Ricci, wala nang naaalala. Ni hindi sabihin sa amin at talagang sa kanila lang talaga ang alam nila, they don't even bother to help us remember at talagang ginusto nilang sila nalang ang nagkakaintindihan sa mga nangyayari.

Could it be coincidence or talagang kami lang ni Ricci yung hindi nakakaalala? I remember na I was sober, pero di ko nga tanda ang mga ginawa ko. Hula ko, we cried, pero bakit? I mean, what could still possibly happen? Its not like Ricci and I would exchange I love you's and cried our hearts out in front of each other, right?